Freezing Rain...

I arrived in Chicago at 6:00 a.m. and boarded a connecting flight to Reagan International. When we were all boarded and the doors closed, the pilot informed us that the weather conditions were one of the prohibited flying conditions set forth by the FAA. Freezing rain. I looked out the window and sure enough. It was black and pouring hard. The pilot said that if ice forms on the wings, the plane can't fly. Nice. After about an hour and a half sitting in the plane on the tarmac, still at the gate, the pilot said he was waiting for a break in the rain, and we would go for it. About seven passengers got off the plane. I was having second thoughts. On top of that, a big tanker machine came over with an extendable hose and began spraying the whole plane with foamy anti-freeze. The pilot had to turn the ventilation system off because of the fumes. So we were stuffy and running out of fresh air. The pilot said the anti-freeze was good for about an hour. I wondered how long it would take to D.C. and what happens after an hour. I talked to my kupuna and Ke Akua for awhile. Sent some emails home. Then we bolted off into the black rainy sky. It was a smooth flight. Every once in awhile I would look out the foggy window into the dark pouring rain and catch glimpses of human like figures flying along side the plane holding up the ice covered wings. Mahalo no e na kupuna. Mahalo no e Ke Akua...